Historical information

This poem references Mersa Matruh, a port town on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt where Tom Meagher of the 14th Battalion may have served. Mersa Matruh was the backdrop for a series of battles between the German and British forces from mid- to late-1942.

Significance

This poem was written by Avis Quarrell, an active community member of the Warrnambool RSL. Avis Quarrell was a former driver during the Second World War and is well known as a photographer and author in the Warrnambool area. The poem is well provenanced, bearing a dedication from the author herself and has significant interpretive capacity to discuss the North African campaigns, experiences of war and the history of the 14th Battalion when paired with the sketch.

Physical description

Poem printed in black ink on marled biege coloured paper in serif font, centred on page and signed by hand. Frame comprises of black plastic and is suspended by a wire on the reverse, which is screwed in on both the left and right hand sides. Poem is sealed in frame by framing tape, brown in colour. A gold adhesive label in the lower left hand corner indicates the framer and an inscription printed on paper is adhered onto the back of the frame.

Inscriptions & markings

Underneath poem on front: “Avis Quarrell. C 2016.”
On reverse, gold adhesive label reads: “Henna Street Picture Framers/74 Henna Street, Warrnambool/Ph/Fax (03) 5561 4795/ABN 88160473014”
Printed inscription on reverse reads: “Warrnambool R.S.L./Please accept this Mersa Matruh sketch and poem/from Avis Quarrell and family (Anne and Murray/ Coverdale, Stephan and Jenny Quarrell, David/ and Janet Quarrell.)/Tom Meagher was a member of the 14th Battalion/in World War 2 and gave this to my husband while/ they were in North Africa./I wrote the poem because of the poignancy it/ created in my heart./We give this on the 100 Anniversary of the/ Warrnambool Sub-Branch, 26th of April, 2016 (16 crossed out and replaced with a 17).”